Pharmacy fraud an online epidemic, so be vigilant

Beware of big promises for cut-rate medicines from online pharmacies that can leave a potential buyer with more problems than cures.

From illegal online pharmacies to unapproved over-the-counter drugs, there's no shortage of scammers hoping to capitalize on New Year's resolutions to lose weight, cure acne or enhance sexual performance. And there are dangers involved in getting pharmaceuticals online.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, bad drugs could cost you your life.

“People who buy medication from a fake online pharmacy may be putting their health at risk because the products sold, while being passed off as authentic, may be fake, expired, contaminated or otherwise unsafe,” said Sarah Clark-Lynn, an FDA spokeswoman.

In fact, the proliferation of illegal online pharmacies is so vast, she said, the agency is working with its foreign counterparts to shut down websites selling unapproved and potentially dangerous medicines, and it recently launched BeSafeRx to help protect consumers from online scams.

“We want to arm consumers with information they can use to make informed decisions about the medicine they take,” Clark-Lynn said.

She said the FDA sent warning letters to the operators of thousands of websites and companies selling unapproved or misbranded prescription and over-the-counter drugs to consumers.

An FDA survey shows one out of four Internet users reported buying prescription medicines online. But almost 30 percent said they are not confident they know how to buy medicines online safely.

It's a reminder to use caution in any transaction.

Dottie Callina, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, said consumers should take simple steps to guard against Internet and other fraud, including limiting the amount of personal information you share online.

Online shopping and chatting can offer some great benefits and deals, but be aware of the dangers. Use the same connectivity to check out the people or businesses offering you a deal.